By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Exodus 13:21
When you were a child, did you ever just lie in the grass and look up at the sky, watching the clouds take on all sorts of funny shapes and figures? I remember lying in the yard when I was a kid, gazing in wonder as the clouds morphed into different animals or other patterns as they glided across the blue sky. When was the last time you stopped to consider the clouds?
Recently, I was praying and realized my prayers were a bit muddled. God whispered to my soul to take a few minutes and focus on a particular issue. My next “to do” was to lift weights. As I ambled over to my workout bench, deep in thought, I sat down. No longer motivated to work out, I leaned back onto the bench. As I glanced up through the skylight, I saw shape-shifting clouds as they floated by. As I observed the clouds transform themselves into different configurations, the phrase from one of my yoga DVDs passed through my head: “Thoughts, like the clouds, let them go.” Not heeding that advice, I focused more on my thoughts, particularly on the issue at hand, as I continued my conversation with God. My thoughts did seem to drift like those clouds but eventually they took form as the Lord gave me new hope when I came to grips with the struggle within.
Did you know there are 163 references to clouds in the Bible? From God setting a rainbow in the clouds so the Israelites would remember His promise to never flood the earth again to references in the book of Revelation of Jesus returning to earth on a cloud, God has used the imagery of clouds in various ways. One of the earlier references in the Old Testament is found in our key verse today in Exodus 13:21. When the Israelites were wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years, God guided them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
In our hurry-up culture, I wonder if we ever slow down enough to behold the clouds as they skim the surface of the sky. Do we focus long enough to gather our thoughts together on deep issues that perplex us so that we can move forward in the knowledge that we’ve stopped, looked, and listened to God’s spirit within us? Do we allow God to guide us just as the pillar of cloud guided the Israelites so long ago? When we were children, we lived life unhurriedly. May we today slow down and spend time in God’s presence, marveling at the beauty and serenity of His creation, while we ponder His truths, listen to His voice, and grasp His deep love for us.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for clouds and the beauty of Your creation. Remind me to frequently stop the frenetic pace to listen to You. May the clouds be a reminder for me today of the peace that comes from slowing down and spending time with You in prayer and contemplation. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Copyright © 2015 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
When you were a child, did you ever just lie in the grass and look up at the sky, watching the clouds take on all sorts of funny shapes and figures? I remember lying in the yard when I was a kid, gazing in wonder as the clouds morphed into different animals or other patterns as they glided across the blue sky. When was the last time you stopped to consider the clouds?
Recently, I was praying and realized my prayers were a bit muddled. God whispered to my soul to take a few minutes and focus on a particular issue. My next “to do” was to lift weights. As I ambled over to my workout bench, deep in thought, I sat down. No longer motivated to work out, I leaned back onto the bench. As I glanced up through the skylight, I saw shape-shifting clouds as they floated by. As I observed the clouds transform themselves into different configurations, the phrase from one of my yoga DVDs passed through my head: “Thoughts, like the clouds, let them go.” Not heeding that advice, I focused more on my thoughts, particularly on the issue at hand, as I continued my conversation with God. My thoughts did seem to drift like those clouds but eventually they took form as the Lord gave me new hope when I came to grips with the struggle within.
Did you know there are 163 references to clouds in the Bible? From God setting a rainbow in the clouds so the Israelites would remember His promise to never flood the earth again to references in the book of Revelation of Jesus returning to earth on a cloud, God has used the imagery of clouds in various ways. One of the earlier references in the Old Testament is found in our key verse today in Exodus 13:21. When the Israelites were wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years, God guided them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
In our hurry-up culture, I wonder if we ever slow down enough to behold the clouds as they skim the surface of the sky. Do we focus long enough to gather our thoughts together on deep issues that perplex us so that we can move forward in the knowledge that we’ve stopped, looked, and listened to God’s spirit within us? Do we allow God to guide us just as the pillar of cloud guided the Israelites so long ago? When we were children, we lived life unhurriedly. May we today slow down and spend time in God’s presence, marveling at the beauty and serenity of His creation, while we ponder His truths, listen to His voice, and grasp His deep love for us.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for clouds and the beauty of Your creation. Remind me to frequently stop the frenetic pace to listen to You. May the clouds be a reminder for me today of the peace that comes from slowing down and spending time with You in prayer and contemplation. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Copyright © 2015 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
RSS Feed